You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

Welcome to Ultimate Subaru Message Board, my lurker friend!

Welcome to Ultimate Subaru Message Board, an unparalleled Subaru community full of the greatest Subaru gurus and modders on the planet! We offer technical information and discussion about all things Subaru, the best and most popular all wheel drive vehicles ever created.

We offer all this information for free to everyone, even lurkers like you! All we ask in return is that you sign up and give back some of what you get out - without our awesome registered users none of this would be possible! Plus, you get way more great stuff as a member! Lurk to lose, participate to WIN*!

Say hello and join the conversation

Subscribe to topics and forums to get automatic updates

Get your own profile and make new friends

Classifieds with all sorts of Subaru goodies

Photo hosting in our gallery

Meet other cool people with cool cars

Seriously, what are you waiting for? Make your life more fulfilling and join today! You and your Subaru won't regret it, we guarantee** it.

* The joy of participation and being generally awesome constitutes winning** Not an actual guarantee, but seriously, you probably won't regret it!

Before the build/rebuild part starts, here's a little history on the car:

I purchased this '86 GL for $150. Both front hubs were stripped, so I had a RWD soob for a while. The one tire fires in the rear were awesome. It came with the stock 1.8 carbed EA and the DR 5spd.

Fast forward a few months. Both hubs are replaced, and it runs pretty decent.

.

After the lift went in, it needed a little more gusto. My friend Andy found a guy getting rid of a whole '93 Legacy for $150. He had punched a hole in the torque converter, and was done with the car.

So out with the EA:

The same day I picked up the EJ, I found a guy in the Seattle area (I think Suberdave?) getting rid of a whole EJ turbo swap (turbo, heads, DP, lines, etc.). After all said in done, in with the turbo EJ:

Well, not much happened this week (10/02/2012), I got the EA diff out, and compared it with the EJ diff. They are pretty much identical on the outside. It's amazing that these were manufactured 14 years apart from each other:

I just need to figure out how to get the EA axles splined to the EJ diff. I think I'm either going to swap the carrier from the EA (since it's an LSD) to the EJ, so I can bolt the stub shafts in and use the EA axles, or use EJ inner cups with the EA axles, I'm not sure yet. So if you have an opinion, let me know!

I like the bracket you made to put the EJ tranny in there. What did the tranny start as gearing wise, and where did you get your 4.44 gearset?

I have a question about your bedliner...That looks like herculiner right? How much did you put on? How many layers? Happy with it? I'm still in the fabrication phase, but after all my exterior stuff is done, I'm planning on putting 2-3 gallons of OD green on the outside and probably 2 gallons on the inside of dark grey.

How did you go about masking the windows and other areas you don't want covered? Did you remask your edges after every coat or did you just mask once and carefully remove it when you were done?

I like the bracket you made to put the EJ tranny in there. What did the tranny start as gearing wise, and where did you get your 4.44 gearset?

I have a question about your bedliner...That looks like herculiner right? How much did you put on? How many layers? Happy with it? I'm still in the fabrication phase, but after all my exterior stuff is done, I'm planning on putting 2-3 gallons of OD green on the outside and probably 2 gallons on the inside of dark grey.

How did you go about masking the windows and other areas you don't want covered? Did you remask your edges after every coat or did you just mask once and carefully remove it when you were done?

Josh

The transmission started off as a 4.11. I purchased the 4.44 gear set from subarugenuineparts.com, the ring and pinion was a direct swap. I have the part number somewhere if you're interested.

As for the bedliner, it's worked ok. I don't think I prepped as well as I should have. I did 2 coats, but a lot of it has worn off in one year already. Again, I attribute this to bad prep on my part. I used 2 gallons for the exterior. As for masking, I just masked once, and it turned out pretty good.

what year make model did you use to find 4.44 R&P? It'd be nice to swap that into my 5mt

I posted a part number in one of my threads....can't find it now. But the application I used was a 2004 Forester XT. But it's the same part for many models, and the part number for the older jdm 4.444 5MTs has been superseded for the FXT part #.

I posted a part number in one of my threads....can't find it now. But the application I used was a 2004 Forester XT. But it's the same part for many models, and the part number for the older jdm 4.444 5MTs has been superseded for the FXT part #.

sweet thanks.. insta-googled it for ************s and giggles. 314 bucks on a random subaru parts website. Price sound about right? They didnt have a picture of the part, just Gear set HYP was the only info the part number had

sweet thanks.. insta-googled it for ************s and giggles. 314 bucks on a random subaru parts website. Price sound about right? They didnt have a picture of the part, just Gear set HYP was the only info the part number had

SubaruGenuineParts has it for $287 if I remember right, and they are legit.

In late December, I finished up with installing the new engine/trans/everything else. I took it for a few test runs, and everything was running great. After a few days, I started wrestling with drive-ability issues (erratic idle, misfires, no power, etc). I couldn't tell if the ECU was still relearning, or if there was an issue with one or more of the sensors. It kept going down hill, until it wouldn't start anymore.

I finally found out it wasn't running correctly due to it constantly fouling spark plugs. I did a fuel pressure test on the feed side, and had 66psi of fuel pressure. Ouch! I tested the return side, and there was almost 80psi, so it looked like I'd be replacing my return fuel line. I think it was a combo of being a very small (1/8") return, blocked, and possible a pinched hard line. After replacing the fuel lines, the car ran great, and has continued to for about 2-3 weeks now!

Here are some pics of the finished product:

Next on the list of things to do: hood scoop for IC, lighter front bumper, fix exhaust, and give it a little more lift.

Lookin' good man. Did you rework the wiring looms your self? I've got my engine hanging in the stand ready to go, it's a 2.2T, goin' into my 88 GL10T wagon. The wiring's my next hurdle, and I don't know whether to tackle it my self or buy one from someone else. Whata' you think, I'm so close now, I'm really anxious? Nice thread, hang in there. Steve.